Fire-Rated Garage Doors in Las Vegas Homes: Why They Matter for Family Safety

The door between your garage and your home plays a critical role in fire safety. During Las Vegas home inspections, one of the most common safety deficiencies found is a missing, altered, or non-compliant fire-rated door between the garage and living space.

Understanding why these doors are required — and what makes a door fire-rated — can help homeowners better protect their families.

Why Fire-Rated Doors Are Required Between the Garage and Home

A large percentage of residential fires start in the garage. Garages commonly store:

• Vehicles

• Water heaters

• Lawn equipment

• Gasoline

• Oil

• Paint and solvents

The purpose of a fire-rated door is to:

• Slow the spread of fire from the garage into the home

• Contain smoke and heat

• Increase the amount of time occupants have to escape safely

Even a small delay can make a life-saving difference during a fire.

What Makes a Door Fire-Rated?

Fire-rated doors must meet specific construction and performance standards.

Common fire-rated door requirements include:

• Solid wood doors at least 1⅜ inches thick

• Solid or honeycomb steel doors at least 1⅜ inches thick

• A minimum 20-minute fire rating (longer ratings provide more protection)

Hollow-core interior doors do not meet fire-rating requirements.

Self-Closing and Self-Latching Requirements

Fire-rated garage doors must also be:

• Self-closing

• Self-latching

A fire-rated door that is left open cannot do its job.

Most fire-rated doors use:

• Adjustable spring hinges

• Automatic closing hardware

These systems ensure the door closes and latches automatically after someone passes through.

How to Identify a Fire-Rated Door

The easiest way to identify a fire-rated door is to:

• Look along the edge of the door on the hinge side

Fire-rated doors include a metal identification tag that lists:

• Fire rating

• Manufacturer information

Sometimes this tag is painted over, but it is usually still visible upon close inspection.

Common Fire-Rated Door Issues Found During Inspections

During Las Vegas home inspections, inspectors commonly note:

• Missing fire-rated doors

• Hollow-core interior doors installed at the garage entry

• Disabled self-closing mechanisms

• Doors that do not latch properly

• Fire-rated doors propped open

Any of these conditions reduce the door’s ability to protect the home during a fire.

How Fire-Rated Doors Are Addressed in a Home Inspection

Home inspectors:

• Verify the door type

• Observe thickness and construction

• Check for self-closing and self-latching operation

• Document deficiencies as significant safety concerns

If a door does not meet requirements, it is typically recommended that the door be repaired, adjusted, or replaced.

Fire-Rated Garage Door FAQs (Las Vegas)

Are fire-rated doors required between the garage and the house?

Yes. Doors between the garage and living space are required to be fire-rated to reduce fire spread.

Can I use a hollow-core door?

No. Hollow-core interior doors do not meet fire-rating requirements.

How can I tell if my door is fire-rated?

Look for a metal fire-rating tag on the edge of the door near the hinges.

Do fire-rated doors have to be self-closing?

Yes. Fire-rated doors must be self-closing and self-latching to function properly.

Will a home inspection check the garage door?

Yes. Fire-rated garage entry doors are routinely evaluated during Las Vegas home inspections.

Final Thoughts on Fire-Rated Garage Doors in Las Vegas Homes

Fire-rated doors between the garage and home are one of the most important passive fire-safety features in a house. Proper installation and operation help contain fires, limit smoke spread, and give families more time to escape safely.

If your garage entry door is not fire-rated, self-closing, or self-latching, upgrading it is a simple step that can significantly improve home safety.